Plate whirler



July 13 1926. 1,592,161

w. c. SCHULTZ PLATE WHIRLER Filed Oct. 12 1925 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM Cl SCl-FJLTZ WILLIAM C. SCHULTZ, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

PLATE WHIBLEB.

Application filed ()ctober 12, 1925.

file present invertion relates to an imaroved win ler or we holding im-L a 1 lenient 3Cltlt. especi iiV for use in the P L process of vedplates ior .-.o o. in best results this coating or film must bedistributed uniformly over the entire area the woi -ing face of theplate. and dried. to subsequent steps in the process of repro net-ion.

The primary object my invention is the provision of an implement or workholder, known in the trade as a plate whirler, by means of which thefilm may be evenly distributed over the working face of the plate anddried. In the accomplishment of this object the plate is supported inhorizontal position by means of the implement or work holder and thelatter is .vhirled, as by hand, over a heating appliance, for thepurpose of subjecting the surface coating of the plate to centrifugalaction. By the centrifugal action any exmaterial is thrown oil the platesurface,

the coating or film is uniformly distributed over the working tace ofthe plate, and a coating or film without blemish is provided. he plateis held by the implement, which is suspended from an overhead support,and the implement and plate are adapted to be bodily whirled or spun byhand until the desired results are secured.

i vention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts involving retaining means and locking means for the plate andsuspending means for the rotary implement as will hereinafter be morefully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combinedand arranged in accordance with the best mode I have thus far devisedfor the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is an edge view in elevation of the implement embodying myinvention.

Serial No. 62,215.

Figure 2 is a face view of the implement showing a p ate in dotted linesretained in the holder and the lock nut inlocked position 1s also shownin dotted lines.

i i ure 0 1s a We iona men at 11118 0 0 of Figure 2.

n igure is detail view pail t the non-rotatable support head.

Figure 5 1S a top plan view showingin a diagrammatic manner the relationof the implement to its retained plate.

In the enemphcation of my lnvention l have indicated the plate as P butit will be ly in section and rotary understood that the implement may beutilized to support other manner of "work than the plate illustrated.

In carrying out my invention 1 utilize pair of retaining arms and 2which are made up of flat metal strips preferably flexible andresilient, and fashioned with retaining slots 3 at their lower freeends. As indicated in Figure 5 the plate is retained between these armsand for best results the diagonally opposite corners of the plate areutilized and inserted in the slots 3 of the arms as a means of support.The respective arms are carried by segmental heads i and 5 each of whichis provided with an attaching lug as 6 and the ends of the arms areriveted or bolted to these lugs as indicated in Figure 2. The segmentalheads are connected by a pair of links 7 7 and pivot pins 8 passingthrough the heads and links in order that the arms may be adjusted byspreading or by drawing them together in releasing or in grasping orgripping a plate.

Between the segmental heads is arranged a screw bar or threaded stem 9with which the opposed segmental heads engage and at its lower end thescrew bar is provided with a retaining head 10 to prevent displacementof the segmental heads.

At its upper end the screw bar is fashioned with a bearing head 11, andbetween the heads of the screw bar a lock nut 12 is arranged forco-action with the two segmental heads. In full lines in the drawing thenut is shown in unlocked position, while in dotted lines Figure 2 thenut is shown screwed down upon the two segmental heads in which positionthe heads and their arms are held in rigid position with relation to thescrew bar for retaining the plate P between the arms.

The rotary implement by means of its Lil head 11 is retained in anon-rotary suspending housing 13 which is fashioned with a suspendingeye 1% by means of which it may be detachably hung from an overheadsupport. The bottom of the housing is formed by a flat open-center screwplug 15 threaded into the housing and between this plug and the bearinghead 11 of the threaded stem. or screw bar ball bearings 16 areinterposed to insure facile rotary movement of the rotary head.Lubrication for the bearing within the housing is provided by injectingoil through the oil hole 17 in the top of the housing. 7

In use the arms 1 and 2 are manually opened or spread apart for theinsertion of the diagonally opposite corners of the plate, it beingunderstood that the lock nut is withdrawn from the segmental heads topermit swinging movement of the arms on the pivots of the heads. Afterthe slotted ends of the arms are engaged with the plate the arms areretained in position until the lock nut is turned to locked position,and in this position the nut firmly holds the segmental heads with theirarms and the screw bar in rigid relation in order that the gripped platewith the arms and screw bar may revolve through the bearing head 11 withrelation to the sus pending housing. The implement and plate as thussupported are spun or whirled by hand, preferably over a heatingappliance, and the spinning or whirling is continued until the coatingor film on the plate is evenly distributed and dried. hen desired theplate may be removed by first withdrawing the lock nut, which releasesthe segmental heads to permit spreading of the arms, and the arms maythen be opened to permit the plate to rest upon a suitable support.

It will be understood that the threaded stem or screw bar between thesegmental heads or rack segments does not revolve in relation to therack segments of the arms. The stem or screw bar may be flattened atopposite sides, as indicated by dotted lines at 18' in Figure 3, forco-action with the teeth of the rack segments or segmental heads toprevent relative rotary movement. when the arms are spread apart ordrawn together the threaded stem or screw bar is caused to move down orup with relation to the arms, at which time the nut 12 is of course inelevated position as indicated in Figure 2, and out of the way to permitad justmcnt of the arms.

By suspending the plate at two opposite corners the entire area of theworking face of the plate is left substantially free for uniformdistribution of the film, and the liquid solution is therefore preventedfrom collecting in spots on the plate.

The implement may also be used for drying the plates after the pictureor image has been applied thereto and the plate developed and washed. inthis instance the centrifugal force developed by the whirling motion ofthe implement and plate throws off the water, leaving a uniformly evensurface without streaks, blots or other blemishes.

It will be apparent that the implements may be made up in variousstandard sizes for use with plates ranging from the smallest size to thelargest size.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto se cure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination in a plate whirlerwith a non-rotatable housing, of a rotatable stern having bearing headin said housing, a pair of plate retaining arms carried on the stem,co-acting means on the stem and arms for adjustably supporting said armson the stem, and means for rigidly locking said arms to rotate with thestem.

2. The combination with a non-rotatable support of a rotatable screwbar. a pair of connected, pivoted segmental heads engaging said screwbar, a pair of retaining arms carried by said heads, and a lock nut onsaid screw bar for rigidly engaging the heads and bar.

3. The combination with a non-rotatable housing, of a screw bar havinga. bearing head in said housing, a pair of pivotallv connected segmentalheads engaging said screw bar, a pair of slotted retaining arms rigidwith said heads, and a locl: nut on the screw bar for rigidly engagingsaid heads and bar.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

TVILLIAM C. SCHULTZ.

